Official Publication of the Irish Water Spaniel Club of America July-August 2010 Best in Specialty Show “Fiona” AM/CAN CH SHR Tara’s Water’s My Middle Name CD JH RN 2010 IWSCA National Specialty - From the Shooting Bitch Class Inside this Issue President’s Message 4 Secretary’s Report 6 Specialty Report 9 Water Spaniels with Experience 13 New Rescue Chairman’s Profile 14 New Membership Applications 14 Delegate’s Report 15 Northeast Report 16 Mid-Atlantic Report 16 Midwest Report 17 Northwest Report 18 Southwest Report 20 The Newbie Column 22 New Titles 24 Advertisers Solid Gold 5 By Kim and Jeremy Kezer Our Gal Fiona IWSCA Board of Directors President Jack McDaniel POB 1409, Bothell WA 98041, 425-486-9205 (home), [email protected] 206-909-9472 (cell) 425-368-7151 (shop) First VP Greg Johnson 2316 5th St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418, 612-205-0075 [email protected] Second VP Deborah Hughes 7 Parkway Ct., Dallas, GA 30157, 770-445-0789 [email protected] Secretary Deborah Bilardi 1930 Marion Avenue, Novato, CA 94945, 415-898-6685 [email protected] Treasurer Sandy Ascot 19755 HWY 113, Custer Park IL 60481, 815-530-0412 [email protected] AKC Delegate Evelyn Van Uden 2301 Lower Mountain Rd, Ransomville, NY 14131, 716-731-1298 [email protected] Membership Chair Jeremy Kezer 86 High Street, Amesbury, MA 01913, 978-388-1295 [email protected] Committee Chairs Judges Health/ Illustrated Breeders Education Education Genetic Concerns Standard Standard Review Mindy Garbarino Colleen McDaniel Laurel Baglia Dan Sayers Colleen McDaniel Top Producers/ Constitution Rescue New Titles Club Historian Web Site Greg Johnson Susanne Hogan Liz Weaver Florence Blecher Deborah Hughes Newsletter Editors Content Melissa McMunn 3025 Green Valley Rd, Ijamsville, MD 21754, 301-831-6974 [email protected] Graphics, Layout and Design Jill Brennan 17147 Weaver Lane SW, Rochester, WA 98579, 206-459-0692 [email protected] Opinions expressed in Rat Tails are those of the author Deadline for submission of material for the next or advertiser, and do not necessarily constitute newsletter is 8-15-10 send submissions to Jill Brennan endorsement by the Irish Water Spaniel Club of at [email protected] America, its officers, board of directors, membership, or editorial staff. CLUB OBJECTIVES MEMBERSHIP (a) To encourage members to perfect, by selective breeding, Is open to all who are in good standing with the American physically and temperamentally sound Irish Water Kennel Club and subscribe to the purposes of the Irish Spaniels; to do all possible to promote their natural Water Spaniel Club of America. Please submit completed abilities & qualities; application form to the Membership Chair with dues payment for the current year. (b) To encourage the organization of independent local IWS clubs in the localities where there are sufficient IWS Dues: Checks payable to IWSCA (payable in U.S. funds) fanciers to meet the requirements of the American Kennel Club; Individual membership $25 (c) To urge members & breeders to accept the standard of the breed as approved by AKC as the only standard of Household membership $40 excellence by which IWS shall be judged; Overseas: Same as above but please include additional (d) To do all in its power to protect and advance the interest $20 to cover international shipping surcharges in the breed by encouraging sportsmanlike competition at dog shows, field trials, obedience trials and tracking tests; Send application with check, payable in U.S. funds, to: to do all possible to further the use of the Irish Water Spaniel as a hunting dog; Kim Kezer 86 High Street (e) To conduct sanctioned matches, specialties, field and Amesbury, MA 01913 USA obedience trials and tracking tests under the rules and regulations of the American Kennel Club. By Jack McDaniel President’s Message July –August way to question the candidates about their positions on issues. Our “league of voters” did a great job, and we owe Lynn Musgrave, Maria Nation, and Amy Loewen a big thank you for their efforts. The contribution to NAIA - At the 2009 IWSCA AGM the members voted to contribute $5,000.00 to NAIA. The motion was passed by a large majority of the members voting. This has forced a hard look at our finances which has resulted in a new budget with restraints. It has also brought up the reality that some of our members have strong feelings about various Animal Rights or Animal Welfare groups, and we need to be aware of that fact. This year’s specialty was really Special. I have attended many This year’s specialty was really specialties over the years and this was one of the best if not SPECIAL. I have attended THE best. many specialties over the years The show committee did themselves proud. The location was great, the weather got better and better, the food was and this was one of the best if exceptional, the awards were first class and the dogs were even better. not THE best. Your new board held its first meeting (by teleconference) this Cross Breeding - We are now faced with another past week and we will be opening up future regular board controversy, cross breeding our IWS. No matter how you feel meetings to listeners starting in July. Unfortunately, due to the about this, I think it has opened up a discussion that has gone late election this year, we lost a month we normally would way beyond the actual breeding. We are now talking about have been able to work together, but we will make up for lost genetics, health issues, breed preservation, etc. What is so time by meeting regularly and reporting back to you. I was good about that you ask? Well, maybe now we will finally really pleased with the working attitude of all board members. develop a long overdue, workable code of ethics and conduct, I look forward to accomplishing a great deal this year. If the set some guidelines, and develop some long-range goals for board keeps you informed of the items that we are working on, our IWS. hopefully you will keep the board informed of your thoughts on The “Code of Ethics” I referred to must not only pertain to those items. After all, the board is here to work for you and for breeding, but it must address the nasty, abrasive, inaccurate the best interests of the Club. conduct of our members including what they post on the We have many committees and if you really want to help the various Yahoo lists. These attacks are more harmful to our club, volunteer to step up and take part. In most clubs, 90% of club than the subjects they address. “Anger management is the work is done by less than 10% of the membership. Let’s word management” and calling others names and viciously see if we can’t raise that percentage by a whole bunch. attacking them in an open forum is detrimental to our club, breed, and sport. I would encourage all of you to take a step We have had a great deal of controversy over the last year, back and see “If the shoe fits.” If so, maybe you need to but controversy is not necessarily bad. It forces us to look at rethink what it is you are trying to accomplish. Having an the reasons why we do things, and to create the change that opinion is one thing; how you express it is another. will improve it in the future. Let’s take a look at some of them: The IWSCA is composed of a large cross-section of Last year’s election - Thanks to additional members running personalities and interests. We need to utilize all of them to for board positions, we now have people stepping up and our advantage and learn to work for the good of the Breed. running for office. 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